Economic Growth for Human Development

Country/Territory:

Namibia

The theme of the 1996 Namibia NHDR is 'Economic Growth for Human Development'. The Namibia Report finds that despite slow per capita economic growth and severe inequalities, the Government has managed to invest heavily in basic human development. For example, it has devoted over 10% of GDP to education and over 6% to health care - both high percentages by international standards. As a result, there have been dramatic advances in human development. This is cause for hope, although, in light of the very unequal distribution of income and productive wealth, the challenge to further advance human development is huge.